Groups of pre-frontal thunderstorms on Monday produced nine confirmed tornadoes. The 5:11 p.m. twister (EF2, 118 mph) near Cameron in Calhoun County destroyed storage buildings, barns and damaged homes. EF1-rated tornadoes affected portions of Pickens County near Central, property north of Whitmire and an area just south of Monetta. EF0 tornadoes were observed at Aiken, southwest of Berea, northwest of Laurens and Carlisle, and east of Gifford in Hampton County. Most of the paths were in rural settings with extensive tree and utility damage. Straight-line winds estimated at 88 mph damaged property in Edgefield with additional NWS storm surveys indicating 80 mph winds just south of Modoc in McCormick County and over parts of Lexington County near Gilbert. The USGS rain gage near Table Rock Reservoir received 1.76 inches of rain in two hours. Warming on Tuesday moved the afternoon temperature to 86 degrees at Shaw AFB and the Georgetown AP. Severe weather developed again on Wednesday. Golf ball-sized hail pelted the towns of Willington, Johnston, Lexington, Springdale and near Rembert. Winds of 68 mph were registered at the Columbia Metro AP. An EF2 tornado raced from just east of Johnston into Ward; it was over 7 miles in length. An EF0 tornado caused localized damage northwest of Antreville in Anderson County and near Honea Path. Straight- line winds, estimated at 85 mph, roared through the south side of Hopkins. Instruments at the MLK Park in Five Points measured 1.73 inches of rain in just 20 minutes, part of a 3.50-inch total. Flash flooding caused a 15-minute rise in the Rocky Branch Creek of 5.64 feet on its way to the seventh highest known stage of 11.47 feet. Other heavy rainfalls included Calhoun Falls with 3.60 inches, the Georgetown AP with 3.49 inches and the McEntire JANG AP with 3.10 inches. Clearing, blue skies on Thursday were accompanied with gusting west winds. At 3:26 p.m., the Florence Regional AP recorded 51 mph. Columbia's Hamilton-Owens AP, Shaw AFB, Folly Beach and N Myrtle Beach all saw winds of 45 mph. Hilton Head Island warmed to 72 degrees before the arrival of cooler air. On Friday morning, Sassafras Mountain reported a low temperature of 34 degrees. Orangeburg and Florence made it to 66 degrees on Friday afternoon. Out-of-season cold on Saturday morning sent the temperature to a sub-freezing 30 degrees at Lake Greenwood, Whitmire and Cedar Creek. An even 32 degree temperature was reported at Fountain Inn, Chesnee, Rock Hill AP and the Hartsville AP. Clarks Hill, Bishopville and Conway noted a minimum of 34 degrees. Rooftop frost was seen in Chapin and Sumter. Picnic table frost was observed near Eastover. A sunny Greenville, McCormick and Charleston all reached a mild 70 degrees. Sunday was a beautiful spring day. The 4:00 p.m. Spartanburg AP shade temperature of 73 degrees was paired with just 15 percent relative humidity. Chester, Aiken and Lake City each made it to a Sunday high temperature of 77 degrees.
The highest official temperature reported was 87 degrees at the Columbia Metro AP on April 4. The lowest official temperature reported was 29 degrees at the SCDNR Walhalla State Fish Hatchery on April 9. The heaviest official 24-hour rainfall reported was 3.79 inches at the USGS Tributary to Rocky Branch Creek above Gervais Street in Columbia on April 5. The state average rainfall for the seven-day period was 2.4 inches. The state average temperature for the seven-day period was one degree above the long-term average.
| Weekly | Jan 1 | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson AP | 2.03 | 11.63 | -1.4 |
| Greer AP | 1.93 | 15.00 | 1.6 |
| Charlotte, NC AP | 1.85 | 11.47 | -0.2 |
| Columbia Metro AP | 3.60 | 14.62 | 2.9 |
| Orangeburg AP | 1.82 | 10.23 | -2.3 |
| Augusta, GA Bush AP | 1.33 | 15.34 | 2.4 |
| Florence AP | 2.75 | 9.22 | -1.1 |
| N Myrtle Beach AP | 2.24 | 7.71 | -4.3 |
| Charleston AP | 3.09 | 8.29 | -3.0 |
| Savannah, GA AP | 2.84 | 12.17 | 1.0 |
Weekly rainfall totals ending midnight Sunday.
4-inch depth soil temperature: Clinton 58 degrees. Columbia 67 degrees. Barnwell 58 degrees. Mullins 60 degrees.
South Carolina river stages were near normal. Charleston Harbor Custom House reported a water temperature of 67 degrees. The Fripp Nearshore Buoy Station 41033 reported a water temperature of 65 degrees.
